[quote="kadarre"]Are you implying Siad Barre while was not fit for 3 years?? If thats the case the guy is really...... Amazing.[/quote]
Not only am I implying it, I am claiming it. The decision to shell and bomb Hargeisa when the SNM members hid behind the civilians was taken by Vice President Maxamed Cali Samatar who was the acting president of that time. He admitted this on a bbc interview when he was asked why Hargeisa was shelled, he said "I ordered it to squash the rebels with brute force."
Haddii darajooyinkaa la leeyahay muu ahayn, waa arrin loo noqon doono, balse su'aashu waxay tahay ma ahaa intaasoo derejo, haa oo wuu ahaa. waxaan xasuustaa 1988 dhammaadkiisii oo lagu waraystay Cali samatar BBC-da oo la yidhi: "magaaladii Hargeysa maxaa madaafiicda loo-la dhacay?" Waxa uu ku jawaabay anigaa amray oo Haddee! maxaa kale oo aanu samayn karaynay, markay budhcaddu soo gashay, Haddee! Waa in xoog looga qabtaa".
The Times (issue 1986) writes:
"The most likely replacement is the Vice-President, Lieutenant-General Mohamed Ali Samatar, who assumed power when General Siad Barre was injured in the crash. He is not of the same clan as the President."
Reuters News (1988) writes:
"Siad Barre, who is aged somewhere between 70 and 80, was seriously injured in a car accident two years ago and although the government says that he has fully recovered, doubts persist over his state of health.
The president still makes frequent public appearances. But they admit that the chain-smoking army general spends most of the time sleeping."
